System Disk

compaqsucks · #1 July 10th, 2004, 02:59 AM

I have a old Compaq Presario 972cds windows 95 computer, when I start the computer at a certain point it says system disk error and something else about insert disk and press any key to continue not sure something like that when I insert a blank floppy to see what will happen and press a key its says non-system disk error insert disk whatever and press any key to continue I think somehow a file got deleted and now I need the disk but I dont have it is there a way I can download the files and put them on a blank floppy and use that?, can you please tell me a way to fix this or a place to download the files? Please replie I would really appreciate your help Thanks!

charliebrown · #2 July 10th, 2004, 07:27 AM

Obviously your hard drive is not booting up. The first step is to obtain a floppy disk that would boot your system up. I kinda doubt whether you can download the needed files. You might try the Microsoft web site and search for Win 95 Emergency Boot Up Disk - obviously you'd have to use a computer thats working. Or else you could ask around any one you know thats using Win 95 if they have a boot up floppy to loan you. Once your system is up and going you can create your own boot up floppy to help in future emergencies.

But thats just the start. The next step is to figure out why your hard drive aint booting up. For starters your hard drive could be dead or its not dead but the system can't recognize it for whatever reason. After you obtain a boot up floppy I would get into the BIOS and 'auto detect' the hard disk. If it works, the system will boot up and you'll see the normal Win 95 screen. Further trouble shooting depends on the error messages you get.

I hope this helps .....

compaqsucks · #3 July 14th, 2004, 02:11 AM

I just looked again now it says invalid system disk please replace and press any key. I think I might have deleted a file or files thats way this happened. If I put a blank floppy iot says non-system disk,or disk error please replace and press any key.

mattpg1 · #4 July 14th, 2004, 06:35 AM

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Go here, double click on your version of windows 95, download and run the file, pop in a fresh diskette when it tells you and click ok. Pop the diskette into the computer with the problem and boot from it. Type "sys c:" and then press Enter (don't type the parentheses). It should say "System Transferred". If so, remove the diskette and restart the computer.

Hope this helps.
Matt

Drum2jc · #5 July 16th, 2004, 05:25 AM

just to clear things up, when you put in a disk for the "non-system disk, replace disk and press any key" error, it isnt looking for a blank floppy... it is saying that it cant find the files on your hard drive that are required to start up your computer, and you need to put in a floppy that has those required files on it... to get them, go to the link mattpg1 provided, click the windows 95 original link, download the file, and follow the rest of matt's directions...

chris